Chapter 17: Welcome To Lundur

The next morning crept upon Astrid slowly as she stepped up Bard's boat, alongside his companions who fatigued from partying the entire night. Astrid sat down onto the bench in silence, cradling her arms around her body in high hopes to forget her circumstance. She watched the villagers of Oliefsborg bid them goodbye happily. Her eyes scanned the crowds, meeting eyes with Jezebel who stood poised beside the waterline, hand in hand with Erick. Anger and disgust bubbled at the sight of them. Her eyes trailed on down the bank where she spotted Knute propped on a stool spinning a coin atop his fingers. She closed her eyes so she would not have to see him.

Soon the boats began to start moving slow and steady away from Oliefsborg as the large mass of people cheered and waved them away. Astrid felt a nervous pit grow into her stomach as she watched the village get smaller and smaller as they furthered away from the happy shore.

"Why are you not smiling?" Bard asked Astrid as he sat down beside her closely on the long hard bench.

Astrid scooted herself to the left slightly providing a tiny amount of space between them.

"I have no reason to smile." Astrid stated, wringing her hands on her lap. "It is as if the what light I had in my life has left. There is nothing but darkness."

Bard laid his hand upon her knee where he began rubbing his thumb over the dirt covered trouser.

"There is many reasons to smile." Bard commented. "On the bright side, you could be a slave to someone else much meaner than I. That is a good reason to smile."

Astrid scrunched her face up in disgust. "You really think that I am happy to be with you. I would rather be dead!" She argued, averting her gaze from him.

Bard neared her wrapping his arms around her neck from behind. "I do not know why you hate me so much, but you probably should get over yourself or you will not make it in Lundur." He patted her on the chest. "I may just have to settle you down." He grumbled in her ear, leaning his head upon her cheek.

"You make me sick!" Astrid spat back in response, pushing his arms from her body forcefully. "I do not need to be settled down, I need to be left alone and I will be just fine with this life."

Astrid turned to face Bard once again. "Have you ever desired something so badly that you would do anything for it?"

Bard pooched out his lip and nodded his head.

"Yes, Astrid I can say that I have." He mumbled. "That something is you. I have went to great extents to have you by my side and I will go to great extents to keep you there."

Bard began to trace his rough fingertips along the back of Astrid' exposed neck. "Tell me my dear, what is it that you desire?"

"My freedom." Astrid blurted out, looking up to the sky as a fish jumped against the water's heavy currents. "What if I agree to stay with you forever." She locked her eyes with his piercing gaze. "Can you at least call me a free woman and not your slave? I will do anything just allow me to be free once again in my life." Her shaky voice pleaded.

"I suppose that marriage could be an option." Bard suggested, patting her knee.

Astrid swallowed nervously at the thought of marriage. Marriage to Bard would be the next thing to slavery she thought to herself.

"I guess it is something to think about."

"Of course we would have to wait a while after our return." Bard informed her with a raise of his brow. "I cannot trust you yet. Also, I must see what you are made of."

Astrid squinted her eyes. "What do you mean 'what i am made of'?"

"I have to see how strong you are at heart." Bard shrugged his shoulders. "It is only a test to see how much you can handle. My wife cannot be weak that is a trait that I cannot have."

Astrid jumped up from where she sat outraged by his tone. "What do you think I am!? I am no weakling. If I was do you not think I would be dead by now." She argued brashly. "I have not lived like a princess but a slave. A slave is the bottom of all humans. We are like animals to people passing by. I eat when I am told. I drink when I am told. I do everything when I am told and I take punishment if I deserve it. I want to know what trait I am showing that makes me appear weak. If you have lived my life instead of your high and mighty life you would realize why I am willing to do anything for freedom."

"I still cannot trust you, my dear." Bard replied snidely, arising from the bench. "Two days time and we will be in Lundur."

Astrid felt her face getting hot with anger and hate. She sat back down onto the bench as she watched the rolling waves crash upon the siding of the boat, occasionally spraying a light mist upon her sweat-beaded face. She looked down at her hands stained with dirt and her own blood and began inspecting the cut on her finger which had closed with the white linen cloth she had wrapped around it. Regrets of not killing herself haunted her troubled mind. Her eyes wandered towards the dull sky, which held dark fluffy clouds lightly along the periwinkle canvas. The bright rays of the sun were shining through from underneath the heavy clouds. Astrid pressed her head against the boat's siding and began trying to sleep so the time would pass quicker. She could not think of anything better to do than to sleep. When she was awake her mind was consumed with unpleasant thoughts and memories that she would rather forget. She also had to prepare herself for the trials which were to come when she arrived in Lundur.

The days ticked away slowly. Seeming as if they would never reach nightfall or the next morning. Astrid say alone in silence thinking to herself. She refused contact with others, remaining with her head down staring at her lap.

In what seemed like forever, but was only three days, the men aboard the boat began to rejoice at the sight of their village while Astrid began to cringe at its astonishing sight. The wood planked triangle houses were lined up side by side along the long straight dirt path throughout the settlement. Many of the houses had animal pens directly behind them, housing goats, cows and pigs. At the end of the road was the chieftain's house, the most important house in Lunur.

The shorelines were filled with many small fishing boats filled with two or three men each, casting nets and woven cages into the clear depths of the water. Women rushed from their homes towards the water to greet the incoming warriors, that were jumping from the boats and trudging towards the land. Once again happy reuniting were occurring while Astrid watched all alone standing at the bow, wrapping her arms tightly around the dragon shaped head terrified of the future which lied before her.

"It is time we set foot in Lundur." Bard announced loudly approaching Astrid from behind as the boat quickly cleared out. "Are you ready, my dear?"

Astrid let out a sigh, hesitantly turning around. "I suppose." She replied simply with a nod, stepping down from the end.

Her bloodshot eyes met his crisp glare as she stood beside him. She looked down at her shabby, raiding attire, which was covered with dirt and remnants of blood. Bard laid his hands upon her shoulders, squeezing them slightly before smiling a satisfactory smile her way.

"Lundur is a wonderful place to live, my dear." Bard reassured her, rubbing his hands down the length of her arms until her entwined their fingers together. "You only have to put your trust in me and your life will turn for the better."

Astrid looked at him and gulped. "I do not know how to trust." She let her eyes trail along the village in the distance. "And if I did trust, it would not be you that I trusted."

Astrid stepped towards the side of the boat, prepping herself to dismount the ship into the knee deep water.

"Trust is not the issue." Bard scolded, grabbing Astrid's wrist. "Loyalty and honesty is what I desire from you, do you understand?"

Astrid held a blank expression on her face as she nodded in agreement. Bard released her and patted her on the back.

"After you my dear." He stated, motioning Astrid from the boat first.

Astrid jumped from the short side of the boat causing a refreshing splash of water to soak her famished body. She began to trek through the thick muck towards the shoreline where what seemed like the entire village was gathered for a happy reunion. Once she reached the sandy shore she strolled away from the massed crowds and flopped down onto her back where she looked up at the cloudy blue sky, attempting to regain her strength to carry on. The people cheered when Bard reached the land, bowing before them all conceitedly. Astrid wondered what drove an entire village to praise Bard in such a manner.

Astrid sat up when she noticed a wealthy man coming down the street odd in the distance. He wore a black fur cloak that swept the ground with a golden chain at his neck. His short curls were peppered with gray and dark brown while his face was clean shaven. A bright orange tunic and light brown breeches popped from underneath his dark covering. Upon his waist he wore a belt which held a leather sword sheath embroidered with golden trimming around the edges, while the silver handle of the weapon protruded. As he approached Bard, a smile built upon his stern face.

"Where is your wealth boy!?" The man asked sarcastically before he pulled Bard into an embrace.

"Gold of all sorts is loaded on the boats." Bard informed, pulling away from him. "I brought back something though that is better than any silver or gold."

The man's eyes perked up as he looked around Bard.

"And what might that be?" He asked.

"Father's beloved slave," Bard said scanning the crowd for Astrid. "Who I do not see at the moment."

Astrid jumped up from where she sat frantically once she realized he was looking for her. She rushed through the crowd and met up beside Bard, who shot her a glance of mild annoyance.

"Leif, this is Astrid." Bard introduced them. "Astrid this is my uncle, Leif."

Leif smiled slightly wrapping Astrid's grubby hand into his. "It is a pleasure to meet you." He placed a light kiss upon the top of her hand. "You are a very beautiful woman."

Astrid felt her cheeks blush at his obeisance.

"Shall we return to the house for a feast?" Leif asked, winking at Astrid, who averted her eyes quickly.

Bard agreed as he took off in a smooth walk back towards his home; Astrid followed closely behind him with Leif at her side.

Bard pushed the thick, wooden rounded door open, exposing the wealthy lifestyle of himself. Astrid looked around dismayed by the glorious sight. The entrance led to the hall, which was the main room. Along the sides of the hall ran a thick place of dirt, serving as a bench or place to sleep. Near the center of the room was a clay-covered heartstone, where an orange fire was burning. On the wall adjacent from the entrance was a large platform with four steps leading up to the dark red oak thrones covered with a pure white sheep skin. Beside the decoratively carved chair was a round table with curved legs in the shapes of snakes. Upon the table sat golden goblets with a clay bottle sitting next to them.

Bard and Leif continued to lead Astrid through the house. Sectioned off to itself was the feasting hall that was filled with many long carved wooden tables, resembling the mead hall of Erick's house. Beside the feasting hall was another room which was shut up with a door and wooden plank walls.

"This is my bedchamber." Bard whispered in Astrid's ear.

Astrid glanced up at him, faked a smile and continued walking behind Leif, who was taking her throughout the entire house. He showed her where the slaves slept, which was nothing more than fur pallets on the floor just as she had in Oliefsborg. Soon they reached the end of the house where Leif opened a door that led out to the animal pens beside the house.

"That is the house." Leif stated, looking around at the house to avoid the awkward silence. "A feast is being prepared by the slaves. If you would like, Astrid, I can show you around Lundur while we wait."

Bard's expression changed quickly from being happy to agitated when he met eye contact with Leif, who had locked arms with Astrid.

"Do not worry Bard, she is in good hands." Leif reassured him with a pat on the shoulder before strolling back throughout the house. "We will be back when the feast is ready, otherwise do not come and fetch us. Do you understand boy?"

Bard rolled his eyes as he watched Leif and Astrid stroll arm in arm through the door. They started to walk on the beat dirt path which looped around in a circle around the village.

"How did you manage to get with Bard?" Leif asked, dropping his arms to his sides.

Astrid shrugged. "Your brother traded me. You see I am a slave myself and am obligated to do as my master says. In my case, Bard is my master."

"Well," Leif huffed. "I do not think that is fair."

"What?" Astrid asked, stopping where she was.

"Slaves are people to. I do not understand why some are treated like animals." He argued as he started to walk again. "I cannot bear to see a slave beaten for no reason."

Leif pointed to a tall pole with a short piece of rope tied to the top located near the chieftain house. "I have seen many an innocent slave beaten to death there under Bard's rule."

Astrid faced Leif shocked. "Why are you not the Earl?"

Leif chuckled and laid his arm upon her shoulders. "I remained Earl for a few years after Porunn died of a sickness. When I felt Bard was old enough to take over Lundur, I turned my power to him." He let out a sigh. "I regretted that decision once I seen how he was."

"He promised me freedom but then told me the only way I could be free is if I came here with him."

"I do believe that he knew you would come with him if he offered you that but -"

"Do not say that I am going to remain a slave." Astrid sharply cut Leif off. "I will gain my freedom one way or another. We have a feast to attend."

Thanks for reading! Remember to vote and comment! Have a great day & God Bless. -Sarah Jane